Bengaluru: MLAs oppose present version of private hospitals bill


Bengaluru, Jun 21 (DHNS): Almost all MLAs who are medical doctors by profession on Tuesday opposed the controversial bill to regulate private hospitals in its present form and suggested to the government to conduct wider consultations in this regard.

Participating in a discussion on the bill in the Assembly, Dr A B Maalakaraddy (Congress) said doctors are already working under immense pressure. Vested interests will make use of the bill to harass them. It will become impossible for doctors to function if their concerns are not addressed, he warned.

“The bill has created an atmosphere of fear. The government should tread cautiously in this regard. We must do it without hurting the sentiments of the doctors...The Minister (Health Minister K R Ramesh Kumar) should not get emotional. His intentions are good,” Maalakaraddy, who is a former health minister, stated.


Dr Shivaraj Patil (JD-S) warned that doctors will not be able to function if the bill is given effect in its present form. Dr C N Ashwath Narayan (BJP) suggested that the government hold consultations with doctors and address their concerns. Otherwise, the government will not be able to protect the interests of the poor patients. It is appropriate to refer the bill to the joint select committee, he added.

Besides, BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar said there are a lot of apprehensions about the bill. Incidents of attacks on doctors have increased of late. Nobody is doubting the government’s intentions. But it should not result in unnecessary harassment of doctors, he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the government should submit before the House the full report of the Justice Vikramajit Sen committee that recommended measures to be taken to regulate medical establishments. The committee had in its report suggested that all medical establishments, including that of the government, should be brought under the purview of the bill, he added.

Almost all BJP members, including Shettar, demanded that the government should refer the bill to the joint select committee.

However, some members of the JD(S) spoke in favour of the bill.

Bill aims to regulate pvt medical establishments and not doctors.

Rate for treatments will not be fixed arbitrarily; an expert committee comprising all stakeholders will be formed for this purpose.

Imprisonment clause for violations dropped.

Many pvt hospitals are over-billing, conducting repetitive tests and over-pricing drugs.

Some pvt hospitals are claiming refund by submitting fictitious bills to the govt.

Govt hospitals are already regulated and hence, no need to bring them under the bill.

West Bengal govt has enacted harsher legislation in this regard.

Counter argument

Harassment of doctors will increase as vested interests may misuse certain provisions.

Attacks on doctors will increase and, in turn, the poor patients will be affected.

Govt medical establishments should also be brought under the purview of the bill.

Submit the full report of Justice Vikramajit Sen report in the House.

The bill has created an atmosphere of fear and hence, it needs wider consultation.  

  

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Comment on this article

  • NN, Mangalore

    Thu, Jun 22 2017

    In fact some Doctors do not give a genuine receipt for their charges. They ask you whether or not you have an insurance claim. If not, they just right the charges on a piece of paper and ask you to pay in cash. That is a possible clue for income tax evasion. If you investigate some of the Doctors for known income against their assets, the truth will come out.

    The bill should allow the patients to question the repeated tests and its necessity to perform before an established Forum/Tribunal. It is responsibility of Doctors to prescribe the less expensive drugs with same healing effect. There should be provision in the bill to sue the medical staff for over charging, poor service, negligence and arrogant behavior. Human touch of healing is disappearing now-a-days. The hospitals, if they get tax break, should spend the tax credits for free service for poor.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • A.V.A, mlore

    Thu, Jun 22 2017

    The basic rights of the patients should be upheld, then all will be well. There is no need for government interference in the private sector. If the government feels that the way hospitals are run need to be improved, then do it in the government hospitals where even a rat is murdered if it walks in.
    Competition is the best remedy for the private sector. Just implement better patient rights and all will be well, doctors will automatically fall in line.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rakesh, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    Immediately after getting their share, U turn from MLAs

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • vincent rodrigues, bengaluru/Katapadi

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    Some control is always good

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Raman, Manipal

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    I feel its a good bill. Doctors have become greedy these days and the bill will check their greediness

    DisAgree [5] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian dsouza, chik/bengaluru

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    Politicians ,Rich can pay let them pay . Charge the rich and help the poor should be how the policy should be framed .
    Law should just cover BPL and low income groups

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Elwyn Goveas, Valencia

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    Health is one of the basic things for everyone in the country.If they oppose certainly they are unfit to be humans.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Eric Cartman, Mangalore/Romania

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    When Bangalore club ill treated some politicians and babus, the result was they harrased them and even try to pass a law to control club memberships. Similarly, this nonsensical bill was meant to harass private medical care. These incompetent politicians and bureaucrats cannot run govt medical care properly and they trying to bring down the quality of private medical care to their level. Politicians always receive some flak, but the lousy bureaucrats behind these always get away as their names are never discussed in public. The system should change such a way that the government should make all the documents related to proposed bills public - i.e who mooted the idea, officers involved in consultations, officers drafting the document before it comes to cabinet etc etc.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    When we live in deep water...one needs to make friendship with crocodiles!!! Few laws in India can't enforced with any force...like....population control by enacting one or two children only....land taking over for any developmental works....gold deposit scheme by asking every housewives to deposit their gold in the bank, etc, etc....impossible!!! Even God comes down to our Country too fails for that matter

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jun 21 2017

    Now you can see the real Chors ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Bengaluru: MLAs oppose present version of private hospitals bill



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